Catheter for Applying a Medium Into the Middle Ear

Abstract

A catheter for applying a medium into the middle ear, includes a shaft having a distal and a proximal end, an inflatable first balloon, the interior of the first balloon being in communication with a first inflation lumen, an inflatable second balloon which is arranged distally in relation to the first balloon, the interior of the second balloon being in communication with a second inflation lumen, an application lumen having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a center section that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the inlet opening being arranged outside of the shaft, the center section extending at least partially through the shaft and the outlet opening being arranged distally in relation to the proximal end of the second balloon, as well as a vent lumen having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a center section that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the inlet opening being arranged distally in relation to the proximal end of the second balloon, the center section extending at least partially through the shaft and the outlet opening being arranged outside of the shaft.

1 . A catheter for applying a medium into the middle ear, comprising:
 a shaft having a distal and a proximal end,   an inflatable first balloon, the interior of the first balloon being in communication with a first inflation lumen,   an inflatable second balloon which is arranged distally in relation to the first balloon, the interior of the second balloon being in communication with a second inflation lumen,   an application lumen having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a center section that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the inlet opening being arranged outside of the shaft, the center section extending at least partially through the shaft and the outlet opening being arranged distally in relation to the proximal end of the second balloon, and   a vent lumen having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a center section that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the inlet opening being arranged distally in relation to the proximal end of the second balloon, the center section extending at least partially through the shaft and the outlet opening being arranged outside of the shaft,   wherein the outlet opening of the application lumen and the inlet opening of the vent lumen are arranged at the distal end of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first inflation lumen and the second inflation lumen are not in fluid communication with each other. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second balloon is arranged at the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent lumen has a larger diameter than the application lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft diameter is less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1.5 mm, particularly preferably less than 1.2 mm, in particular less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second balloons are inflatable with less than 1 bar, preferably less than 0.75 bar, very particularly preferably less than 0.5 bar gauge. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first balloon in the inflated state has a length of 5 to 30 mm, preferably 8 to 20 mm, particularly preferably 10 to 16 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the second balloon in the inflated state has a length of 2 to 8 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm, and/or the second balloon in the inflated state has a diameter of 2 to 8 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first balloon is spaced 3-10 mm, preferably 5-8 mm from the second balloon. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second balloons are interconnected by moans of a web. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the second balloon in the inflated state has a shape in which the diameter of the proximal end of the balloon is less than the diameter of the distal end of the balloon. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second balloon in the inflated state extends partially beyond the distal end of the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first balloon in the inflated state has a diameter of 3 to 12 mm, preferably 5-10 mm, particularly preferably 7-8 mm.